Download 17B Communism in China

Review Unit #17B
Communism in China/Other Areas
COMMUNISM IN CHINA
The Chinese Republic:
- the government of China before communism came to power
- it had replaced the dynasties in China (they were letting too many foreigners in)
- it was begun by Sun Yixian After he died, Jaing Jieshi replaced him as head of the Nationalists
Rise of Communism:
- Communism was attractive to the peasant classes (the same as in Russia!)
- Communism in China was led by Mao Zedong
- The Nationalists defended their rule from the Communists in the Chinese Civil War
- Mao led the Communists on The Long March
1. to train as fighters 2. to learn Communism 3. to recruit supporters
- the war had to stop as Japan invaded during WWII - after, the Communists defeated the Nationalists
- China became Communist (People’s Republic of China) - the Nationalists fled to Taiwan
Mao’s China:
- Great Leap Forward: Mao’s attempt to improve the economy in China - it failed
- Cultural Revolution: Mao’s attempt to strengthen Communism in China - it failed
(Red Guard [Student supporters], Little Red Book, anti-intellectuals)
Deng’s China:
- Deng Xioping replaced Mao Zedong - he saw China needed to change from Mao’s strict ways to survive
- Deng introduced economic reforms - but NOT political changes
- allow some private ownership (capitalism) - some foreign companies in China
- Deng crushed a student demonstration against Communism in Tiananmen Square
Recent China:
- today China is run by Hu Jintao (2003)
- Hong Kong was given back to China from Great Britain in 1997 (it’s capitalist ways influence southern China)
- a major focus of China is to reduce the population growth rate (they try to limit families to 1 child)
COMMUNISM IN OTHER PLACES
Korea: - North was Communist – South was not
- Korean War: North invaded the South
- South supported by the United Nations
- neither side won (stalemate)
Vietnam - Vietnam had been a French colonial possession
- Under HoChi Minh the French were driven out
- The French divided Vietnam before they left: North was communist - South not
- North attacked the South - the South was supported by the United States– unsuccessfully. North won – took over
Cuba: had been a Spanish colony – turned over to the U.S. after Spanish American War – became an American play land (1950’s)
- Communist rebels led by Fidel Castro took over and made Cuba communist (1959) American interests were forced out
- Cuban Missile Crisis: Soviets put nuclear missiles in Cuba (1962) America demanded their removal
- the closest the world has come to a nuclear war (US vs. USSR)
- Fidel Castro still runs communist Cuba – but its failing economy leads some to believe communism may not last there